Comparison

Character Memo vs Reading Journal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Character Memo

Features
Read full description

This app allows you to easily register characters, their notes, and the pages on which they appear when reading a novel. [ Features ] - In addition to characters, you can also categorize and register various terms. - Text recognition allows you to copy and paste text from images in your camera and photo library. - The registered data can be output to a CSV file. [ Privacy ] - The registered data is stored securely on your device and cannot be accessed from outside. - Passcode lock function available. Your passcode information is securely stored in Keychain, provided by Apple. Please use it as a companion while reading. You can also use it for movies, dramas, comics, etc.

About

Reading Journal

Features
Read full description

Most reading apps are a catalog, a feed, or both. ReadLog is the opposite: a quiet, private place for your reading โ€” the books, the quotes you want to keep, and a recap you'll actually want to look back on. Save the lines worth keeping Type a quote or scan it straight from the page with your camera. Tag it to the book, add the page, mark a favorite. Your highlights live in one searchable journal โ€” not locked inside an e-reader. See your reading add up Books finished, pages read, your reading pace and streak, top genres, books by month. Set a yearly goal and watch it fill. Every number reflects only what you've logged. Make a Reading Wrapped โ€” anytime Turn any month, year, or single book into a beautiful recap card and share it in a tap. Not once a year โ€” whenever you finish something you're proud of. Your library, your shelf Track every book through to-read, reading, finished, did not finish, and reference. Log sessions as you go and see each book fill up. Private by design No account. No AI. Not tied to Amazon or any store. Everything stays on your device โ€” nothing is uploaded, synced to us, or sold. Free โ€” no account needed Unlimited books and shelf, reading sessions, ratings, basic stats, and a yearly recap card. Premium โ€” monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or a one-time Lifetime purchase. Check the price and free-trial eligibility in the app before you buy. - Reading Wrapped for any month, quarter, year, or single book, plus extra card styles - Unlimited quotes and camera quote scanning - Reading goals and full stats & trends - Reading-log PDF export and full library backup - Cancel anytime from your Apple ID settings ReadLog is a personal reading journal. You enter your own books, quotes, and sessions; any stats or recaps it shows reflect only what you've logged. Your data is stored on your device and is not uploaded or shared. Privacy Policy: https://softgrove.github.io/readlog-legal/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Character Memo4 screens
Reading Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Character Memo at none against Reading Journal's 3. Reading Journal's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Reading Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Character Memo asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Character Memo ships an update every 4 days, Reading Journal every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Character Memo versus Reading Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCharacter MemoReading Journal
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 3 days โ€” better
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.217.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size10 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTakatoshi SuzukiRyosuke Igarashi

In-app purchases

None

Character Memo

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Reading Journal

Subscriptions2
  • ReadLog Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • ReadLog Premium (Yearly)7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • ReadLog Premium Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Character Memo free?
Character Memo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reading Journal free?
Reading Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Character Memo or Reading Journal have ads?
Character Memo shows ads; Reading Journal does not.
Which is updated more often, Character Memo or Reading Journal?
Character Memo ships an update every 4 days, and Reading Journal every 3 days. Most recently, Character Memo was updated on November 12, 2026 and Reading Journal on November 13, 2026.

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